More Articles

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Lawyers involved in the Steubenville rape case were in court yesterday,
arguing whether the Jefferson County Juvenile Court trial of the two teenage defendants should be
closed to the public and whether it should be moved from the county.

Visiting Judge Thomas Lipps said he would announce his decisions next week.

Lawyers with the Ohio attorney general’s office and representatives for the 16-year-old girl
whom prosecutors say was raped in August opposed opening the trial to the public.

The case has garnered international attention through media reports and blogs. The hacker
activist group Anonymous also has been involved. Some have claimed that the community is protecting
the two high-school football players accused at the expense of justice for the girl.